"During his 3 years at Peter Pan, Isaac has become much more confident and willing to explore and try new things. Being able to spend more time away from his safe space (our home environment,) and spend time with people other than us, putting his trust in them to look after his needs, has been amazing for Isaac.

The support we’ve all received has been incredible. We've lost count of the amount of times the staff at Peter Pan have helped us out, from giving advice to helping us to fill out forms and referring us to different services. They even made some home visits to help Isaac transition to our new home when we moved last year, and again when we’ve struggled to get Isaac to leave the house. They've been like a friend who will listen and understand the everyday struggles we've had to face.”

Steph has some stand-out memories of Isaac’s time with us.

“We remember when Isaac met ‘Mr Razor’ (who had run the London Marathon in aid of Peter Pan) when he visited the Centre to present them with the funds and meet the kids. Isaac was just in awe of him, giving him high fives and getting excited at him being there. It was lovely to see, as it was the first time Isaac had interacted positively with someone dressed up or in costume. It was so lovely to see the smile and delight on his face and it's a memory we will always look fondly on.”

When asked, what would you say to a family who perhaps feels nervous about getting in touch with us for help, Steph says:

“Any family looking for support or guidance and doesn't know which way to turn for help please get in touch. The staff are so lovely and welcoming and even if they don't know the answer they will do their best to find it out or point you in the right direction of someone who can help.

The staff at Peter Pan are a wonderful bunch of dedicated people who go above and beyond to help guide and support every single family through their journey with so much love and care. They are more than just a special needs nursery, they are friends that are always there with a listening ear and will help in any way they can. Without the Peter Pan centre we don't know where we would be today. Thank you will truly never be enough and we hope they know just how amazing they all are.”

Having a baby should be one of the happiest times of your life. But when my long-awaited and longed-for baby was born with a serious disability, the happiness I felt was overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. I hadn’t expected this. I wasn’t ready for this. I knew nothing about children with disabilities. Eddie was born in 2013 with Down’s syndrome. He spent 3 weeks in neonatal intensive care.

At 10 weeks he underwent eye surgery and had to wear contact lenses for 6 months. Maternity leave was a whirlwind of medical appointments, hospital visits and ambulances. Other services became involved in Eddie’s care, services I had never known existed like Occupational Therapy and Portage. I wasn’t ready for this.

We made a new support network and friends for life. Friends who ‘get it’ and who have ‘been there’ and who are with us every step of the way on this journey none of us were expecting. At the Peter Pan Centre I learnt how to help Eddie learn and communicate. Eddie developed an amazing bond with his keyworker Michelle, whose care, patience and expertise allowed him to flourish.

The team helped us navigate the overwhelming and complex work of Special Educational Needs, advocating for us at meetings, offering advice, leading on Eddie’s Education, Health and Care Plan and securing our school of choice. And in the middle of all this was a happy, content little boy who didn’t know all this was going on around him, for this was his life. And Eddie loves life! Eddie was born ready and Peter Pan gave him the best start in life. And they helped me get ready for my new life as mum to a child with a profound and complex learning disability.

It’s been the most wonderful journey and I am so grateful to the Peter Pan Centre for everything.
The help and support I have received is absolutely immeasurable, from help with filling out paperwork and supporting with school visits, to facing new experiences in the community that I could have never imagined conquering alone!